What Is a Lacrosse Ball Made Of?
Lacrosse is a popular sport that is making a come back. The game was once played exclusively in Canada and the United States, but it is now played internationally in the United Kingdom, Australia, Europe, and East Asia. It is a game where a team plays offensively, like in basketball, and attempts to score points with a ball. Like hockey, the ball must make it into a net guarded by a goalie.
Other People Are Reading
-
Description
-
The official lacrosse ball must be made of solid rubber. The ball also must be 7.75 to 8 inches around and weigh 5 to 5.25 ounces. The ball is offered in a variety of colors, but for official matches it must be white, yellow, or orange. Practice lacrosse balls are usually created in a soft material like foam in order to minimize injuries while learning to play.
History
-
Lacrosse is an indigenous sport created in North American. When the Europeans first made contact with the Native Americans, lacrosse was already an established sport. The originators of the sport are credited to be the Huron and Iroquois Native American Tribes in the New York and Ontario area. The first lacrosse balls were made of deerskin stuffed with hair or grass. A wooden ball also was developed that was perforated so it would whistle when flying through the air. A Canadian dentist, W. George Beers, introduced a solid rubber ball in 1867 when he standardized the game.
-
Game Terms
-
Lacrosse has different terms than other games. "Clearing" is moving the ball from the defensive half of the playing area to the attack goal. A "crosse" is the piece of equipment shaped like a stick with a net on the end used to throw, catch and carry the ball. A "pocket" is the net area of the crosse that holds the ball. "Rake" is a movement that pushes the ball to the side of the player rather than directly down the field.
Training
-
Lacrosse can be a dangerous sport and injuries often occur. These include sprains, concussions and wrist damage. The best way to avoid these injuries is to train during the off-season. Running increases lower body strength in order to prevent knee and ankle strains. Another training activity is to play solo wall ball. This builds the player's coordination and strengthens the wrists.
Manufacturers
-
There are two primary manufacturers of lacrosse balls. One is Warrior Lacrosse, which supplies balls to the Major League Lacrosse matches. They were founded in 1992 in Warren, Michigan. The other is Brine, which began as a family business in 1922 and now supplies balls for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
-
